On 26 January, the Judicial Selection Committee appointed Isaac Amit as President of the Supreme Court, ending a 16-month vacancy. However, Justice Minister Yariv Levin refused to recognize the authority of the newly appointed President, exacerbating growing tensions between the courts and the executive. Levin, who opposes the seniority-based appointment process of the Judicial Selection Committee, called Amit’s nomination “illegitimate.” Levin also boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of Amit, alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The executive’s refusal to acknowledge a Supreme Court President appointment is unprecedented and, observers argue that it compromises the cooperation necessary for the courts' effective functioning, especially given the President’s key role in overseeing judicial appointments, case assignments, disciplinary panels, and judge transfers or removals.

Sources: The Times of Israel (1), The Times of Israel (2), Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, Israel Democracy Institute (1), Israel Democracy Institute (2), Haaretz (2), The Times of Israel (3)

On 9 January, Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar introduced a new judicial reform bill aimed at restructuring the Judicial Selection Committee. This move follows earlier judicial reform proposals made in 2023, some of which were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2024 following widespread protests. The new proposed changes include replacing the two representatives of the Israel Bar Association with one lawyer appointed by the government coalition and one by the opposition, thereby increasing political representation on the committee. Additionally, the bill seeks to reduce the majority required for Supreme Court appointments from the current 7-2 to 5-4. A mechanism to prevent deadlocks in the event of persistent vacancies is also included. Observers warn that, despite being presented as a 'compromise solution,' the new bill could politicize judicial appointments and undermine the judiciary's independence if enacted.

Sources: The Jerusalem Post, The Times of Israel, The Israel Democracy Institute

On 7 November, the Knesset passed legislation authorizing the Interior Minister to deport the immediate family members of individuals convicted of terrorism offenses, including Israeli citizens. Relatives who knew of a plan to commit such an offence and failed to report it, or expressed support for the act, are liable to be deported to Gaza or elsewhere for seven to 20 years. Civil rights groups condemned the law as unconstitutional, arguing it undermines citizenship rights and constitutes collective punishment against Palestinian citizens of Israel and residents of East Jerusalem. Also on 7 November, the Knesset approved a temporary five-year provision allowing children as young as 12 to be detained in closed facilities under terrorism laws if charged with murder or attempted murder. The provision permits transferring these minors to standard prisons once they turn 14. Both laws have faced significant criticism, and observers anticipate judicial challenges in the Supreme Court.

Sources: Knesset (1), Knesset (2), The Times of Israel, The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Middle East Monitor

On 28 October, the Knesset passed two bills to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from operating in Israel. The first bill prohibits UNRWA from providing services or conducting activities in Israel, directly or indirectly. The second bill terminates the 1967 treaty between Israel and UNRWA, ending recognition of the agency and removing legal immunity for its staff. The legislation, passed by a significant majority (92–10), is set to take effect 90 days after its passing. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the legislation, stating it violates the UN Charter and international law and further warned that, under Israel’s occupation, the ban puts UNRWA's operations in Palestine at risk, as coordination with Israeli authorities is essential for accessing Gaza and the West Bank. Amnesty International also voiced concern, stating that the decision contradicts an order by the International Court of Justice, which mandates Israel to ensure sufficient humanitarian aid and facilitate the provision of basic services in Gaza.

Sources: The Jerusalem Post, United Nations (1), United Nations (2), Reuters, Amnesty International, UN Secretary General

On 23 June, the Supreme Court of Israel ordered the government to disclose to the Court the conditions under which Palestinian detainees are held at the Sde Teiman detention camp in the Negev desert. This order comes after international media investigations reported allegations of torture and sexual violence against Palestinian detainees from Gaza. Several Israeli human rights organizations petitioned the Court to close the detention center, citing severe abuse, including beatings, medical neglect, and arbitrary punishments. Prisoners were reportedly blindfolded and handcuffed within fenced compounds. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture urged Israel to thoroughly investigate these allegations. Despite the Israel Defense Forces previously informing the Court on 5 June of plans to gradually transfer detainees out of Sde Teiman and phase out its use, the facility remained partially occupied, prompting the Supreme Court to order updated information. Out of the approximately 4,000 Palestinian detainees held at Sde Teiman since October 2023, 36 had reportedly died by late May.  

Update: On 18 September, the Court rejected the request to order the closure of Sde Teiman, citing a reduction in the number of detainees (from 700 in June to 24 as of 1 September) and improvements in facility management, as claimed by the State during the hearings. However, the Court mandated the State to comply with Israeli law on detainee treatment. The Court did not deal with other related issues, such as the denial of Red Cross visits, under separate judicial review, and the ongoing military investigations into torture allegations. 

Sources: Supreme Court of Israel (1), Haaretz (1), The Times of Israel (1), The Times of Israel (2), CNN, United Nations, Supreme Court of Israel (2), Haaretz (2), The Times of Israel (3), Lawfare

On 25 June, Israel’s Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision to revoke the longstanding exemption from military conscription previously granted to Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men. The ruling mandates that the state must now start to draft students from Haredi yeshivas –schools dedicated to the intensive study of Rabbinic literature– into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). In its decision, the Court emphasized the “principle of equality” in military service, stressing that it must apply equally to yeshiva students and other Jewish citizens to avoid “selective enforcement”. The decision sparked widespread protests and resulted in four arrests. The debate over compulsory military service in Israel has intensified amid the ongoing war in Gaza, with the IDF arguing for more personnel and the Haredim arguing that military service conflicts with their religious lifestyle.  

Sources: Supreme Court of Israel, Haaretz, Associated Press, The Times of Israel (1), The Times of Israel (2)